Floribunda rose plant named `Meioffic`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive blossoms that are Orient Pink suffused with Aureolin Yellow on the upper surface and Dawn Pink suffused with Aureolin Yellow on the under surface. Such blossoms additionally display a vervain lemon-scented fragrance. The foliage is dark green and exhibits a glossy upper surface that contrasts well with the light-colored blossoms. The plant exhibits a vigorous, compact and bushy growth habit. The new variety is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Floribunda rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the `Flamingo` variety (non-patented in the United States).The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was theproduct of the pollination of the `Meihartfo` variety (non-patented inthe United States) and the `Tip Top` variety (non- patented in theUnited States). The `Meihartfo` variety sometimes is known as the, `PinkWonder` variety and the `Tip Top` variety sometimes is known as the`Baby Doll` variety. The parentage of the new variety can be summarizedas follows:

    `Flamingo`×(`Meihartfo`×`Tip Top`).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms in abundance on a substantially continouous basis attractivefragrant blossoms that are light Orient Pink suffused with AureolinYellow on the upper surface and Dawn Pink suffused with Aureolin Yellowon the under surface,

(b) forms attractive vigorous dark green foliage having a glossy uppersurface,

(c) exhibits a vigorous, compact and bushy growth habit,

(d) exhibits a particularly good disease resistance against black spot,and

(e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in thelandscape.

As demonstrated in France, the new variety undergoes asexual propagationby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, cuttage, etc. Thecharacteristics of the new variety have been found to be strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to anotherin France.

The new variety has been named the `Meioffic` variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed during Junewhile budded on Rosa froebelii understock and growing outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are shown atthe bottom of the photograph.

Fig. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

Fig. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

Fig. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

Fig. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

Fig. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

Fig. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower--plan view--obverse;

Fig. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower--plan view--reverse;

Fig. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower--planview--obverse;

Fig. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower--planview--reverse;

Fig. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

Fig. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

Fig. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

Fig. 13 illustrates a specimen of an adult main branch;

Fig. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets--planview--upper surface;

Fig. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets--planview--under surface; and

Fig. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets--planview--upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate thecorresponding color in more common terms. The description is based ontwo year-old specimens of the new variety during June while budded onRosa froebelii understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures,Var, France.

Class: Floribunda.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 50 to 60 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Habit.--Bushy.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Yellow-Green Group 146C. Adult wood:medium green, Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Thorns.--Size: medium. Quantity: numerous. Color: pinkish on youngstems, and Havana brown on mature wood (as illustrated).

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, wide and linear.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped reddish on young foliage and mediumgreen on adult foliage with more or less glandular edges. Under surface:light green, with some small thorns.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: oval. Serration:single and regular (as illustrated). Texture: consistent. Generalappearance: dense, and glossy foliage. Color (young foliage): Uppersurface: Yellow-Green Group 146A, and more or less stained with reddishcoloration. Under surface: medium green, Yellow- Green Group 146B andwidely stained with reddish coloration. Color (adult foliage): Uppersurface: Yellow-Green Group 146 A. Under surface: light green,Yellow-Green Group 146D.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Usually one to seven blooms per stem.

Peduncle.--Light green and more or less stained with reddish coloration,and approximately 5 cm. in length on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose and greenish in coloration. Undersurface: medium green in coloration and commonly with some extensions.

Buds. --Shape: oval. Length: approximately 2.5 cm. on average. Size:medium. Color upon opening: Upper surface: near Orient Pink, Red Group36 A, and more or less suffused with Aureolin Yellow, Yellow Group 12B.Under surface: near Dawn Pink, Red Group 49A, and suffused with AureolinYellow, Yellow Group 12B.

Flower.--Shape: cup-shaped and elongated with a substantially roundheart. Diameter: approximately 10 cm. on average. Color (when openingbegins): Upper surface: near Orient Pink, Red Group 36A, and more orless suffused with Aureolin Yellow, Yellow Group 12B. Under surface:near Dawn Pink, Red Group 49A, and suffused with Aureolin Yellow, YellowGroup 12B. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: near Orient Pink, RedGroup 36A, and more or less suffused with Aureolin Yellow, Yellow Group12B. Under surface: near Dawn Pink, Red Group 49A, and suffused withAureolin Yellow, Yellow Group 12B. Color (at end of opening): Uppersurface: near Orient Pink, Red Group 36A, and more or less suffused withAureolin Yellow, Yellow Group 12B. Under surface: near Dawn Pink, RedGroup 49A, and suffused with Aureolin Yellow, Yellow Group 12B.Fragrance: medium, vervain lemon-scented. Lasting quality: verylong-lasting blossoms. Petal drop: good with the petals commonlydetaching cleanly. Petal form: rounded to oval. Petal number:approximately 40 to 45 on average. Stamen number: approximately 125 onaverage. Anthers: ochre in coloration. Filaments: bright yellow incoloration. Pistils: approximately 70 on average. Stigmas: yellowish incoloration. Styles: pinkish in coloration. Receptacle: medium green,smooth, and in longitudinal section in the shape of a pitcher.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous.

Blooming.--Very abundant and substantially continuous.

Resistance to diseases.--Very good, particularly with respect to blackspot.

Resistance to frost.--Very good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive fragrantblossoms that are light Orient Pink suffused with Aureolin Yellow on theupper surface and Dawn Pink suffused with Aureolin Yellow on the undersurface, (b) forms attractive vigorous dark green foliage having aglossy upper surface, (c) exhibits a vigorous, compact and bushy growthhabit, (d) exhibits particularly good disease resistance against blackspot, and (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation inthe landscape;substantially as herein shown and described.